Washington: Indian-American Pulitzer Prize winner Jhumpa Lahiri has been selected for the prestigious 2014 National Humanities Medal which would be presented to her by US President Barack Obama next week.

Jhumpa, 48, has been selected for the award for enlarging the human story, the White House said yesterday.

"In her works of fiction, Lahiri has illuminated the Indian-American experience in beautifully wrought narratives of estrangement and belonging," the White House said in a statement.

Among other awardees include historians, writers, a philosopher, scholar, preservationist, food activist and an education course.

First Lady Michelle Obama will also attend the awards ceremony at the White House on September 10.

"The National Endowment for the Humanities (NHE) is proud to join President Obama in celebrating the achievements of these distinguished medalists," said NEH Chairman William Adams.

"The recipients of this medal have sparked our imaginations, ignited our passions, and transformed our cultural understanding. They embody how the humanities can serve a common good," he said.